Vulcanizing mechanism



May, 18, 1943 R. G. TILTON VULCANIZING MECHANISM Filed May 18 1942 3Sheets-Sheet l Help { immora May 18, 1943 R. G. TILTON VULCANI ZINGMECHANISM Filed May 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT RNEY May'l8, 1943 R.G.. TILTON VULCANIZING MECHANISM Filed May 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet s BY"mi-I 1| ATT RNEY PatentedMay is, 1943 .2-,319,37Z

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE VULCANIZING MECHANISM Russell George Tilton,Mountain Lakes, N.'J., as-

slgnor to Otis Elevator Company, New vYork, N. Y., a corporation of NewJersey Application May is, 1942, Serial No. 443,508

8 Claims. (CI. 18-38) The invention relates to vulcanizing mechaofrubber with layers of reinforcing canvas, the nism for splices in movingstairway handrails. inner layer of canvas forming the inner surfaceMoving stairways are provided with two handof the handrail therebyfacilitating slidingof the rails, one on each side of the stairs anddriven handrail on its guides. The vulcanizer comprises in synchronismwith the steps, On both the' 5 a mould formed of two halves which willbe upper run and the-return run of the stairway termed the upper mouldblock and the lower incline, the handrails'slide on guides extendingmould block, these blocks being designated ll inside the handrails. Atone end of the stairand I2 respectively. These mould blocks areof way,the handrails pass around driving wheels the same shape and are ironcastings. Each block and at the other end around idler wheels to make 1is provided with cover l3 between which and the return. i the block is alaye of heat insulating material The handrail before it is installed onthe stair- I 4. The cover is formed with flanges [5 at its way is asingle length piece long enough to perends and is secured to the blockby screws l8. mit the ends to be spliced together to form a The faces I!.of the mould blocks are maloop after it has been strung onto thestairway. lchined to provide a good fit. Oppositely dis- It is thepractice in splicing present .day' traction posed depressions and 2| areformed in the driven handrails to form complementary ends faces 1 he ppand ower blocks respectively on the handrail which are cemented togetherto receive the handrail. Depression 2| has a in overlapping relationshipwith vulcanizable raised portion 22, the sides 23 of which providerubber utilized at certain points in the joint and 20 abutting surfacesfor the tips 24 of the C formato complete the joinder by vulcanization.Retion of the handrail. On the raised portion are pair of existinghandrails is effected in a similar a pair of filler rods 26 and 21shaped to conform manner, the rail being shortened and respliced to theinside of the handrail. The inner edges 30 or a new section is splicedinto an old rail. i 0f the filler rods are at an angle and flat to Theobject of the invention is toprovide im- 25 bear'against the sides of anupwardly extending proved vulcanizing mechanism for the splicing -Shapedstop 3| fo e on the raised portion.

of moving stairway handrails. Also the bottoms of the filler rods haveflat sur- Features and advantages of the invention will faces 32 whichbear a inst e flat Surfaces 33 become apparent from the followingdescription o the raised portion- Thus the depressions, the and appendedclainisi... so raised portion and the filler rods form a longi- In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a view-in perspective of'moving handrail.

stairway handrail vulcanizing mechanism em- Each filler e Provided ateach nd Wit a tudinal passage of the same cross section as the bodyingthe invention, with a handrail in place; pivot pin 34 extending intolongitudinally aligned.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same, also with ape t s 35 vin the o andsecured the ein by the handrail in place; v set screws 36. At each endof the 'mould the pins Figure 3 is a fragmental end view of the same,for the two filler rods are rotatably supported in similar to Figure 2,but without the handrail and nta y a ed p t s 3 p ovided in a with thetop removed, illustrating the mechanism Vertically movable Slide ey t eS e in condition to receive the handrail; 40 each pin is provided ,withan operating handle Figure 4 is a view in'veltical Section ta 4|. Eachslide has avertical slot 42. Ashoulder crosswise of thevulcanizingmechanism, with the serew 43 extends through e S ot d'is Seed handrail in place; to the lower mould block in position to form aFigure 5 is a fragmental view in vertical section guide for the upp endo the slide- The Slide extends belowthe lower mould, the flanges I5 buttaken lengthwise of the mechanism, also with 4 the handrail in place;

Figures 6 and 7 are details of the complemenagainst the end of the mouldblock. A Ph of r tary ends of the handrail prior to making the shapedbrackets 45, one at each end of the lower joint; and g V a i mouldblock, are secured as by welding to Figure 8 is a detail of the handrailwith the 54) brackets I45 and I46 in turn secured as by screws endsjoined together ready for insertion in'the 48 to the bottom of the lowermould block. Each vulcanizing mechanism. a bracket is formed with anaperture 46 in the yoke A Referring to the drawingathe invention willthereof to receive a lock member 41. A nut 50 be described .as adaptedfor a C-shaped traction and lock washer 5| are provided on the threadeddrive handrail. Such handrail designated I0 is end of the lock memberand tightened against being cut away at 44 to permit the slide to bear ashoulder 52 on the lock member, this nut and lock washer and an enlargedportion 53 formed on the lock member on the other side of the yokeacting to retain the lock member on the bracket while permittingrotative movement thereof. This enlarged portion is partiallycylindrical being cut away to form parallel sides 54 so as to fit intothe slot 42, thus providing a lower guide for the slide. The lower endof the slot is enlarged at 55 to permit rotative movement therein ofthey enlarged portion 53 of the lock member when the slide is in itsuppermost position. Beyond the slide the lock member is provided with ahandle 56 for rotating the lock member when the slide has been movedinto its uppermost position to lock the slide in that position. Anaperture 51 is provided in the lower end of the yoke of each bracket 45to receive a removable pin 58 which extends through the slot 42 in theslide at the bottom thereof when the slide is in its lowermost positionto lock the slide against upward movement. To prevent'loss, this pin isconnected by a chain 50 to the handle 56.

The mould blocks are clamped together by means of bolts 60. Six of thesebolts are utilized,

these bolts being arranged in crosswise aligned pairs, one pair at eachend of the mould and one pair in the middle. Each bolt has a separatehead 6| screwed onto the upper end of the bolt and held by a setscrew62. Each bolt is provided with a T handle 53 slidable in an aperture 64in thebolt head; Pins 65 are provided in the ends of thehandle toprevent the handle coming out of the aperture 64. Aligned apertures 66are provided in the mouldblocks to receive these bolts. Each bolt isthreaded on its lower end 61 and each aperture in the lower block isthreaded at 'I0 to receive the threaded end of the bolt.

The shank II of each'bolt above the lower end is of reduced diameter topermit the bolt to slide in the upper mould block. A bushing I2 isprovided on top of the upper mould block immediately above each aperturetherein to form a guide for the shank of the bolt and to prevent thebolt being removed from the upper mould blick. These bushings are heldin place in apertures provided in the cover I3. The top portion I3 ofeach aperture in the upper block is threaded to receive the threaded endof the bolt to facilitate lifting the upper block from the lower block.

The remainder of each aperture in the upper block is reamed out topermit the threaded end 61 of the bolt to slide in the upper block whenit is unscrewed from the lower block. The lower tip I4 of each'screw isof reduced diameter and 3 provided with a tapered end I5 and the upperpart I5 of each aperture in the lower block is reamed out. Thisconstruction facilitates starting the bolt in tine threaded portion I ofthe vided in each depression for the heater elements.

Also arranged in each depression is a resistance 84. Each depression isfilled with asbestos to serve as a heat insulator and to hold theresistance in position. The heater elements are provided with connectingscrews 85 and the elements 75 box 93 to a flexible conductor I00 havinga plug IOI. The top of the terminal box 95 is provided with two plugreceptacles I and I06 for receiving the plug II. A dummy plug I I0 isalso provided for inserting in receptacle I06, this plug being connectedby a. chain III to an eye bolt I I2 serted in left hand receptacle I05.An additional plug receptacle H3 is provided in the bottom of theterminal box for receiving a connecting plug from a source of currentsupply. For 110 volt operation dummy plug H0 is inserted in right handreceptacle I 05 and plug IN is inserted in lefthand receptacle I05, andfor 220 volt operation plug IN is inserted in right hand receptacle I05and the dummy plug allowed to hang free.

Jewels are provided for indicating whether or not the moulds'areheating, the left hand jewel I I5 being for the upper mould block andthe right hand jewel IIB for the lower mould block as indicated by thearrows in the jewels. The jewels are illuminated by lamps I connectedacross resistances 84.

A thermometer I is provided for recording the temperature of thevulcanizer. This thermometer is provided with protective casing I25having a window I21 for making the reading. A safety chain I connectedto the top IBI of the thermometer is detachably connected to an eye boltI32 secured to the cover96 of the terminal box. An aperture I33 extendsthrough the upper mould block partially into the lower block to receivethe thermometer, a guide bushing I34 lower edge to form a jaw I41 to fitinto the space between the upper and lower flanges I43 and I44 on theleft hand side of the handrail guide. A pair of longitudinally spacedpins I50 are secured to the right hand bracket I immediately below theupper flange thereof to form a guide for a movable clamp I5I. This clampis of a U cross section with its lower leg I52 at an angle and forming ajaw to flt into the space between the upper and lower flanges I43 and I44 on the right hand side of the handrail guide. A pair ofiongitudinally spaced cylindrical blocks I53 are provided between thevertical legs of brackets I45 and I45. These blocks are of reduceddiameter at their ends to'fit into apertures I54 provided in the sidesof the brackets. The outer ends of the blocks are threaded and areprovided with nuts I55 and lock washers I to clamp the blocks to thebrackets. Each block is provided with an aperture I51, the left handportion I50 of which is threaded to receive the threaded end of aclamping bolt IBI. The remainder of aperture I51 is reamed out to,permit movement therein of the shank I62 of the bolt. The yoke I53 ofshanks of the bolts.

7 top of the rail between the capping layers, this strip being cementedin place by first applying clamp II is provided with a pair of aperturesI 64 aligned with apertures I51 for receiving the The heads I65 of thebolts provide shoulders I66 to force the clamp I5I inwardly upontakingup on the bolts. Each bolt is provided with a T handle I 61 slidable inan aperture in the head I65. Pins I are provided in the ends of thehandle to prevent the handle coming out of the head. A compressionspring I12 is arranged on shank I62 of each bolt between the clamp 'I5Iand the block I53 iorbiasing the clamp outwardly. Each bolt is providedwith a stop I1I on the left hand end thereof to limit its outwardmovement.

In installing a traction driven handrail, with the handrail tensioningmechanism fully released, the handrail is strung onto the guide for thereturn run and around the wheels and the ends are brought together offthe guide at a point along the incline of the upper run.' The ends Aboutare drawn together by a rope tackle. twelve inches of extra rail lengthis allowedfor making the joint. The ends of the railare then held inwood stripping blocks and strippedback in sections one layer at a time.is done to form complementary male and female ends 5 and I16 on' thehandrail. Thefirst Y stripping operation to provide the male end shownin Figure 6 is to remove. the outer layer,

of capping rubber I11 down tothe top layer of canvas I80. For a handrailconstruction of six canvas layers the cut is startedabout 7% inches backfrom the end of the handrail and is preferably made at a 45 angle asthis gives a longer flexing line. The next stripping operation-is toremove the first layer 01; canvas back about The stripping two-layers ofrubber cement to the portions I8I and I82 in the manner previouslydescribed. The handrail joint thereby becomes as shown in Figure 8 andis ready for vulcanizing.

The lower mould unit is then clamped to the handrail guide on theincline of theupper run at the joint in the handrail but with thehandrail out of the mould. To apply the clamp to the handrail guide,bolts I5I are turned outwardly, springs I12 holding movable clamp I5Iagainst shoulders I66 on the bolts as the bolts are unscrewed, therebyincreasing the-space between the jaw members. When sufiicient spaceexists between the ends of the jaw members, the

' clamp is lowered over the flanges I43 and the inch from the rubbercapping previously removed and along a 45 line parallel to this cut toprovide a set back portion I8I'. Each succeeding stripping operation ismade by removing the remainder of the handrail down to the next layer ofcanvas from a point about 1%.; inches measured along the edge of thehandrail closer to the .end of the handrail and along cuts crosswise ofthe rail. The forming of the female end shownin Figure '1 is the reverseof that of forming the male end. The end is first cut off at a angleextending in the same direction as that for the male end when the twoends are superimposed, and the rubber capping is cut back about inch ata 45 angle parallel to the end of the rail to expose the top layer ofcanvas, forming a set back portion I82. The inner layer of canvas isthen removed from along a crosswise out about 7 inches from the end ofthe rail measured I along the short edge. The succeeding layers are thenremoved in a manner similar to that described for the male member. Theends of the handrail are then thoroughly cleaned with pure gasoline andtwo coats of rubber cement applied on exposed parts of both male andfemale e'nds except for the top set back portions It and I82. The firstcoat of cement is allowed to dry thoroughly before applying the second.After the cement has dried, the end step I83 of the male piece iscovered with a thin layer of vulcanizable rubber such astie. gum and astrip of this material about inch wide is run along the bead I34 on eachside. The two ends are then matched together with a piece of muslin inbetween them for the hands! The upper unit is then removed and soapapplied to the surface which will leave a'flaky residue. Pins 58 arethen removed and the slides 40 at each end are l fted simultaneously totheir uppermost position. Each slide is locked in this position byturning downwardly on handle of locking member 41 to place the enlargedportion 53 crosswise in th end 55 of slot 42 Filler rods 26 and 21 arethen rotated upwardly one at a time into the positions illustrated in'Figure 3, this rotation being effected by means of the handles M attheends of the rods. Asmall amount of soapstone powder is applied to theinterior of the lowermould section and any excess wiped oil: the fillerrod seats on the raised portion 22.

v The handrail is now placed onto the filler rods with the splicelongitudinally central with respect to the mould. The filler rods arethen turned back to their horizontal positions one at a time to preventtheir, sticking until properly matched.

Themuslin is then pulled out a little ata time and the cement coatedsurfaces pressed together.

A piece of tie gum I85 is then'fitted into the space provided by setback portionsIBI andl82 in the by means of their handles M. This placesthe filler rods inside the handrail. The handles 56 of locking members41 are then turned back to horizontal position preferably by usingchains 59 to obviate any injury to the hands. This places the enlargedportions 53 parallel with slots 42, permitting the slides 40 to bereturned to their lowermost positions. The splice may be tapped with amallet to insure full downward travel of the slides and that the splicefits properly in the mould. The upper mould section-is then put inplace. The upper mould section may be conveniently handled by screwingthe end bolts 60 a short distance into the threaded portions 13 of theapertures in the upper mould block to retain these bolts in raisedpositions and by placing the handles of these bolts crosswise of themould to use as grips. The center bolts are allowed to hang to act asguides in placing the upper mould block on the lower block. With theupper block in place, the bolts 60 are screwed into the lower sectionand taken up evenly by hand until the splice is snugly compressed. Withthe proper connections madefor the voltage of the particular powersupply the mould is connected to this source of power. 'Also'thermometerI25 is placed the splices are made in other ways.

in the aperture I33 and its chain I30 connected to eye bolt I32.

As the temperature of the mould increases the bolts 60 are taken upevenly by hand at various times. When the temperature recorded by thethermometer reaches a certain point which for the particular compound ofrubber usually used in handrails is 120 centrigrade, the mould isdisconnected from the source of power supply and the time at which thiscut-off is made is recorded. The thermometer may now be removed from themould. I Thereafter any slack in the splice is occasionally taken up bytightening down evenly on the bolts Bl) by hand. After power has beencut off for a certain period of time.

trated in Figure 3 to permit the handrail to be removed from the mould.Any side fins which may have formed on the handrail during thevulcanizing operation are removed and after the joint has cooled thejunction is polished. The lower mould section is removed from the hand-$0 the face thereof;

rail guide and the handrail is sprung onto the handrail guide along theupper run. The handto vulcanize splices in old handrails in case of vrepairs, including the splicing in of new handrail sections in oldhandrails. Also, the'vulcanizing mechanism may be adapted to suit othertypes of handrails and to vulcanize joints in which The vulcanizingmechanism described has the advantage of being a compact unit of onlytwo sections. The filler rods and their operating mechanism are integralwith the lower mould section as is the clamp for the handrail guide. Thebolts 60 are retained with the upper mould section as are the bolts Iiiwith the lower mould section. Thus the disadvantage and inconvenience ofparts being lost or misplaced are obviated. It is to be understoodhowever that various changes may be made in the construction of thevulcanizing mechanism and many different embodiments thereof couldbemade withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope, of the invention,Therefore it is intended that all matter contained in the, abovedescription or shown in. the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illusformed of a pair of separable mould blocks ar-' ranged face toface, said blocks having longitudinal depressions formed in their facesoppo site. each other to provide an opening for the handrail; a pair offiller rods for the inside of the separated to move said rods away fromsaid abutment and to rotate said rods into position to receive thehandrail splice.

2. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice in a moving stairway handrailcomprising; a mould formed of a pair of separable mould blocks arrangedface to face, said blocks having longitudinal depressions formed intheir faces opposite .each other to provide an opening for the handrail;a pair of slides, one at each end of one of said mould blocks, movableperpendicularly a pair of filler rods for enaging the inside of thehandrail, said rods extending longitudinally of the mould in saidopening and pivotally mounted. at their ends on said slides; an abutmentbetween said rods;

and means for securing the blocks together;

3. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice in a moving stairway handrailcomprising; a mould formed of a pair of separable mould blocks arrangedface to face, said blocks having longitudinal depressions formed intheir'faces opposite each other to provide an opening for the handrail;a pair of filler rodsfor engaging the inside of the'handrail, said rodsextending longitudinally of the mould in said opening; an abutmentbetween said rods; means at each end of one of said mould blocksforpivotally supporting said filler rods, said supporting means beingoperable to move said rods away from said abutment when said mouldblocks are separated-so that said rods'may be turned into position toreceive the handrail splice and with the handrail splice in placethereon turned back to fit into the inside of the handrail, saidsupporting means being operable then to return said filler rods toengage the abutment, placing said handrail splice'in the depression insaid one mould block; and means for clamping the splice between saidblocks.

4. Mechanism for 'vulcanizing' 9. splice in a moving stairway handrailcomprising: a mould formed of a pair of separable mould blocks arrangedface to face, each of said blocks having a longitudinal depressionformed in its face opposite the other to provide an opening for thehandrail; a pair of filler rods for engaging the inside of the handrail,said rods extending longitudinally of the mould lnsaid opening. one ofsaid mould blocksbelng formed with an abutment in said depressiontherein for said rods; slidable means at each end of said one mouldblock for pivotally supportingsaid filler rods, said slidable means whensaid mould blocks are separated handrail extending longitudinally of themould in said opening; an abutment for said rods and means mounting saidfiller rods on one of said mould blocks and operable when said blocksare being movable in a direction to move said rods away from saidabutment; means operable when said rods have been moved away from saidabutment to turn the rods into position to receive the handrail spliceand with the handrail splice in place thereon back to fit into theinside of the handrail, said slidable means being adapted to be thenmoved back to place said handrail splice in the depression in said onemould block; and

means for securing the blocks to each other when they have been placedback together.

5. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice in a moving stairway handrailcomprising: a mould formed of a pair of separable mould blocks arrangedface to face, said blocks having matching longitudinal depressionsformed in their faces; a pair of filler rods extending longitudinally ofthe mould in the opening formed by said depressions, one of said mouldblocks being formed with an abutment in said depression therein for saidrods, said opening, filler rods /"8.Ild. portions of said abutmentforming a longitudinal passage in the mould oi the same crossthereonback to fit into the inside of the handrail, said slidable means beingadapted to be then moved back to place said handrail splice in thedepression in said one mould block; and means retained with the other ofsaid mould blocks for securing the blocks to each other after they havebeen placed back together.'

6. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice in a moving stairway handrailcomprising; a mould formed of a lower mould block and a removable uppermould block arranged face to face and separable, said blocks havingmatching longitudinal depressions formed in their faces; a pair offiller rods extending longitudinally of the mould in the opening formedby said depressions, the lower mould block being formed with an abutmentinsaid depression therein for said rods, said opening, filler rods andportions of said abutment iorming a longitudinal passage in the mould ofthe same cross section as the handrail; a pairof slides, one at each endof the lower mould block; means for pivotally supporting said fillerrods in the upper ends of said slides, said slides when the upper mouldblock is removed being movable upwardly to lift said rods away from saidabutment; means for locking said slides in their uppermost positions;means for manually turning said rods when the slides are in theiruppermost position intoupright position to receive the handraii spliceand with the handrail splice in place thereon back to fit into theinside of the handrail, said slides being adapted to be then releasedand lowered to lower said handrail splice into the depression in .thelower mould block; bolts for securing'the upper mould block tothe lowermould block aiter it is replaced;thereon, aligned vertical aperturesbeing provided in said blocks for said bolts; and means at the upperends of the apertures in the upper mould block for retaining the boltswith the block; j

7. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice-in a moving stairway handrailcomprising; a mould formed of a lower mould block and a removable uppermould block arranged 'face to face, each having a heat insulating'coversecured to the block and said blocks havingmatching longitudinaldepressions formed in their faces; a pair of filler rods extendinglongitudinally of the mould in the opening formed by said depressions,

the lower mould block being formed with an abutment in said depressiontherein for said rods. said opening, filler rods and portions of saidabutment forming a. longitudinal passage inithe mould of the same crosssection as the handraih parallel relationship, said slides when theupper mould'block is removed being movable upwardly to lift said rodsaway from said abutment;

means for locking said slides in their uppermost positions; means formanually turning said rods when'the slides are in their uppermostposition,

said rods being turned upwardly to receive the handrail splice and withthe handrail splice in place thereon being turned back to fit into theinside of the handrail, said slides being adapted to be then releasedand lowered to lower said handrail splice into the depression in thelower mould block; bolts for securing the upper mould block to the lowermould block after it is replaced thereon, aligned vertical aperturesbeing provided in said blocks for said bolts, the lower end of each boltbeing threaded, a portion of each aperture in the lower mould blockbeing threaded to receive the threaded end of the bolt, said bolt beingslidable in the apertures in the upper mould block; means at the upperends of the apertures in the upper mould block for retaining the boltswith the block; and an electrical heating unit in each mould block.

8. Mechanism for vulcanizing a splice in a 'moving stairway handrailcomprising; a mould formed of a lower mould block and a removable uppermould block arranged face to face, each having a heat insulating coversecured to the block and said blocks having matching longitudinaldepressions formed in their faces; a pair oi'f-filler rods extendinglongitudinally of the mould in the opening formed by said depressions,the lower mould block being formed with an abutment in said depressiontherein for said rods, said opening, filler rods and portions of saidabutment forming a longitudinal passage in the mould of the same crosssection as the handrail: a pair of vertically movable slides, "one ateach end of the lower mould block, each slide I each filler red, one ateach end thereof, said pins being secured to the ends of the filler rodsand extending through said apertures in said slides to form pivotalsupports for said rods; meansior locking said slides in their uppermostpositions; handles secured to the outer ends of said pins for manuallyturning said rods when the slides are in their uppermost position, saidrods being turned upwardly to receive the handrail splice and with thehandrail splice in place thereon being turned back to fit into theinside 01' the handrail means for locking said slides in their lowermostpositions; bolts for securing the upper mould block to the lower mouldblock,

aligned vertical apertures being provided in said blocks for said bolts,the lower end of each bolt being threaded, a portion of each aperture inthe lower mould block being threaded to receive the threaded endof thebolt and the upper end of each aperture in the upper mould block beingthreaded to retain the bolt with the block, the

., remainder of the aperture in the upper mould of each bolt being ofreduced diameter topermit block being 01' enlarged diameter and theshank a handle; and an electrical heating unit in each mould block.

RUSSELL GEORGE TILTON.

